2020-11-05 Joint statement on UHC- item 11.2

World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)
World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)
C/o FDI World Dental Federation, Avenue Louis-Casaï, 51, 1216 Geneva, Switzerland
info@whpa.org – http://www.whpa.org/
WHO 73rd World Health Assembly
Joint Intervention on Item 11.2: Universal health coverage:
moving together to build a healthier world
Honourable chair, distinguished delegates,
I am speaking on behalf of the World Medical Association (WMA). This statement is supported
by the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA), representing over 34 million nurses,
pharmacists, physiotherapists, dentists and physicians in over 130 countries.
Having a strong health workforce is key to achieving universal health coverage. We remind
Member States of the key messages regarding addressing the predicted shortfall of health
workers, which included the need to “Invest in health worker jobs for UHC and inclusive
growth…to maximise the potential of the available workforce and invest in education, skills and
jobs that deliver efficient health impact.”
The ongoing under-investment in the health sector has resulted in a deterioration of working
conditions worldwide and desperate shortages of health professionals which negatively impact
people’s health outcome and health worker well-being. Positive Practice Environments must be
established throughout the health sector if national and international health goals are to be met.
Through its new campaign, WHPA urges governments to Stand up for Positive Practice
Environments, highlighting the need for urgent action to address the global health workforce
crisis. WHPA implores governments to ensure decent working conditions, including occupational
safety, manageable workloads, stress reduction measures, adequate remuneration, and the
provision of psychosocial support and counselling, especially during times of emergencies.
The health care professionals are committed to improving the health of populations worldwide
through working together and promoting effective interprofessional collaborative practice. We
encourage Member States to work with health professionals to encourage and foster such
collaboration to enable the workforce to work toward UHC together.
Thank you for your attention.
(263 words)